John Hardy was a desperate little man
And he carried two guns every day
Shot a man down on the West Virginia line
To see him, John Hardy gettin' away
To see him, John Hardy gettin' away
Now John Hardy's standin'
So drunk he could not stay
and he took him by the arm
He said, Johnny, come and go with me
He said, Johnny, come and go with me
He said, Johnny, come and go with me
He said, Johnny, come and go with me
John Hardy had a sweet loving mother
And she'd come for to go to his bail
There was no bail for a murderin' man
They throwed John Hardy back in jail
And John Hardy had a pretty little girl
And the dress that she wore was blue
She come down to the old jail cell
She said, Johnny, I've been true to you
She said, Johnny, I've been true to you
She said, Johnny, I've been true to you
She said, Johnny, I've been true to you
John Heidi had a pretty little woman
And the dress that she wore was red
And she come down to that old jail cell
I would rather see you dead
I would rather see you dead.
I would rather see you dead.
Johnny, I would rather see you dead.
Babe, I've been to the east,
and I've been by the tide.
You just take me to my hanging ground.
You take me to my hanging ground.
You take me to my hanging ground
You take me to my hanging ground